Crankless engine



`fFb. 14, 1933. T. L. SHERMAN 1,897,771

GRNKLESS ENGINE Filed Feb. 14, 1929 ,F57 5 ,ray 5:

- l/wff/rafe v Thoma: L. Sher/mm milan Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE tDHOSIAS L SHERMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TO MICHEL-mm ENGINES CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A GOBPORATION F NEW YORK CBANKTJESS ENGINE Application led February 14, 1929. Serial No; 389,950.

This invention relates to guide bearings for reciprocating units.

The invention -h'as been worked out in connection with guide bearings for the reciprocating units of a crankless engine and the invention has for its salient object to secure more effective guidance of the reciprocating parts.

Further objects of the invention will apar from the following specification taken 1n connection with the drawing which forms a part of this application, and in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation partly broken `away illustrating an existing method of and means for guiding the reciprocating units of a crankless engine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing guiding bearing means constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view taken longitudinally of the unit illustrating a slightly different embodiment of one of th guiding bearings; l

Fig. 6 is an elevational view partly in section at right angles to Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating anothen embodiment of the invention, this view being taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 8 in the direction indicated by the arrows thereon;

Fig. 8 is an end elevation partly in section showing lthe bearing structure illustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevational view showing a modified construction of the central bearing member Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 9;

Figs. 11 and 12 are side and end elevations respectively illustrating another embodiment of the central bearing element;

Figs. 13 and 14 are end elevations illustrating further vmodifications of the central bearing member; and

Fig. 15 is an end elevation similar to Figs.

particularly y 10 and 12 but illustrating a further embodiment of the invention.

The invention briefly described consists of bearing means developed particularly for the reciprocating units of the crankless engine and the bearing means comprises preferably three bearing elements, one of the elements being disposed in` sliding bearing enga ment with a yoke or connecting portion tween the two reciprocating elements or pistons of a crankless engine and the other two bearing elements being disposed at the opposite side of the axis of reciprocation of the umts and in sliding bearing engagement with the reciprocating elements. The con- 66 tacting bearing surfaces are preferably cyllndrical although if desired, as shown in certain embodiments of the invention, thee Y' contacting surfaces may be fiat or inclined. The' bearing elements are preferably mount- 70 ed in such a manner, as by a pivotal mount- A ing, that they will be self-alining.

urther details of the invention will ap pear from the following description.

Fig. 1 of the drawing illustrates a crank- 'l5 y less engine of the type disclosed in Michell reissue Patent No. 15,756 granted February 5, 1924, In this engine there are a plurality of reciprocating units and Fig. 1 vshows two such units, and 21. The reciprocating 80' units comprise pistons 24 and 25 reciprocating in` cylinders 22 and 23 and connected by a yoke 26.`

The pistons 24: and 25 are provided with slipper bearing elements and 31 which are universally pivoted with respect to the pistons and have bearing faces 32 .and 33 engaging respectively the opposite sides 'of a. slant or swash plate 35 mounted on a shaft 35.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 the pistons 24 and 25 are slidably mounted in cylindrical bearings 36 and 37 at the ends of the cylinders. The shaft 35' is rotatably mounted in bearings 40 and 41 t-he end thrust being taken by thrust bearing surfaces 42 and 43. I

The structure above described is illustrated in the reissue patent referred to and the present invention has for its object to 100 improve the construction and eiliciency of the guide bearings for the reciprocating units since in .the construction described the cylindircal bearings 36 and 37 which perform the guiding function for the reciprocating units have been found to be not entirely eiiicient.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 there are shown three bearing elements A, B and C. The bearing element A is positioned in sliding engagement with the outer cylindrical bearin surface of the yoke 26 and has a cy indrical bearing surface 46 disposed in slidin engagement with the surface 45 of the o e. I

e bearing elements B and C are disposed in sliding engagement with extensions o the istons 24, 25 respectively and have cylindrical bearing surfaces 47 dis osed in sliding engagement with the cy indrical outer surfaces 48 of the piston extensions.

It will be evident that the three bearing elements A, B and C effectively guide the central and side parts of the reciprocating unit.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 there is shown a slight modification of the construction of the side bearing elements B or C. In this form of construction the bearing element is vided with an outer curved surface 49 w ich is seated in a correspondingly shaped socket or seat 50. The bearing e ement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is slidably mounted in its seat and is therefore self-alming.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 each of the side bearings B or C comprises apair of angularly related sli per bearing elements 51 and 52 having splierical bosses 53 and 54 which are mount ed in spherical sockets formed in the frame 55. The slipper bearing elements 51 and 52 have cylindrical inner, surfaces '56 engaging the piston. It will be evident that the slipper elements 51 and 52 because of their universal pivotal mounting will be selfalining.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a slipper bearing construction adapted to coact wit and guide the yoke 26. In this structure a slipper elementV is universally pivote'd at 61 to a block 62 carried by the engine casing and havi a spherical l socket receiving the spherical bearing portion 61 of the slipper. The slipper 60 also has a cylindrical bearing surface which slidably engages the cylindrical outer surface of the yoke 26. The block 62 is bolted or otherwise secured to the engine casing and yadjustment is provided for by shims 66.

Figsf" 11 and 12 illustrate a construction similar to Figs. 9 and 10 but in this form of the invention theslipper element 60 which 65 coacts with the .yoke 26.., has -a flat Ybearing surface 68 disposed in sliding bearing engagement with a flat upper surface 69 of the yoke.

In Fig. 13 the slipper 60 which coacts with the yoke 26 has a V-shaped portion 70 povided with converging or inclined flat aring surfaces 71 and 72 which encrage correspondin ly shaped bearing sur aces formed in a -shaped groove in the upper surface of the yoke 26.

In Fig. 14 the upper surface of the yoke 26 has concave bearing surfaces 75 and 76 and the slipper 60 coacting therewith has correspondingly shaped convex surfaces.

In the form of theinvention shown in Fig. 15 the yoke 26 has inclined bearing surfaces and 81 which are engaged by fiat bearing faces 82 and 83 of a pair of slipper elements 84 and 85 universally pivoted in a block 86 carried by the engine casing.

The flat and V-shaped guides illustrated in Figs. 11 to 15, serve the useful purpose of preventing rotatlon of t-he reciprocating unit f.

about its 'own axis, a purpo'se which 1s not fulfilled by the guides shown in the other figures.

From the foregoing descri tion it will bd' clear `that simile, practica and etlicient guide bearings ave been provided for reciprocating units and by means of the bearings the reciprocating units will be guided in a true reciproatimy path and will be effectively prevented lfrom getting out of alinement. In the majority of the embodiments to the invention the bearing elements are universally pivoted and therefore are self-alinin Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described it will be evident that the invent-ion is ca able of further modification and that furt er changesin the construction and arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit orl scope of the invention as expresed in the following claims.

' What I claim is:

1. In combination, a reciprocating unit comprising a pair ofoppositely acting pistons, means connecting said pistons, bearin means slidably engaging the outer surface o said connecting means on one side of the axis of reciprocation of said pistons and bearing means engaging said piston connecting means at points spaced longitudinally of said axis and on the o axis from said first named) aring means.

2. In combination, -a. reciprocating unit comprisinga pair of oppositely acting pistons, means connecting said pistons, bearm means slidably engaging the outer surface o said connecting means on one side of the axis of reciprocation of said pistons and bearing lmeans engaging said piston connectin means at points spaced longitudinally of said no I osite side of the i said axis and on the opposite side of the .axis from said firstnamed bearing means, all of 'said bearing means havin cylindrical bearing surfaces engaging sai connecting means and said pistons.

3. In combination a reciprocating unit comprisin a pair of oppositely acting pistons, a yo e rigidly connecting said pistons, bearing means engaging the surface of said yoke on one side of the axis of reciprocation of said pistons and bearing means engaging (piston connecting means -at points space longitudinally o said axis and on the opposite side of the axis from said first named bearin means.

4. In combination, a reciprocating .unit comprising a pair of oppositely acting pistons, means connecting said pistons, bearing means slidably engaging the outer surface of said connecting means on one side of the axis of reci rocation of said pistons anda plurality o bearing means engaging said iston connecting means at (points spaced ongitudinally of said axis an on the opposite side of the axis from said first named bearing means.

5. In combination a 'reciprocating unit comprising a pair of oppositely acting pistons, means connecting said pistons, bearing means enga 'ng said connecting means on one side of t e axis of reciprocation of said pistons and a pluralit of pivoted bearing means engaging sai piston connectin means at points spaced longitudinally of sai axis and on the opposite side of the axis from said first named bearing means.

6. In combination a reciprocating unit comprising a pair of oppositely acting pistons, means connecting said pistons, bearing means engaging said connecting means on one side of the axis of reciprocation of said pistons and a pluralit of pi'voted bearing means engaging4 sai piston connecti means at pointsspaced lon 'tudinally o said axis and on the o posite side of the axis from said first name bearing means, all of said bearing means having cylindrical bearing surfaces .engaging said connecting means and said pistons.

7. In combination a reciprocating unit comprising a pair of oppositely acting pismeans enga ing said connecting means on one side of t e axis of reciprocation of said4 reciprocation.

9. In combination, a pair of o positely acting pistons having extensions t' ereon, a

yoke'connecting the pistons, bearing means engaging the yoke and a pair of pivoted bearing members engea'giiig each piston extension, said pairs ing disposed on the opposite side of the axis of reci rocation.

10. In combination, a pair o oppositely acting pistons having extensions t ereon, a yoke connecting the piston extensions, pivoted bearing means engaging the yoke and a pair of pivoted bearing members engaging each piston extension, said pairs being .disposed on the opposite side of the axis yof reci rocation.

1 In combination, a pair of o positely acting pistons having extensions ereon, a yoke connecting the piston extensions, bearmg means en ging the yoke and a pair of bearing mem rs engaging each piston extension, said airs being disposed on the opsite side o the axis of reciprocation, said aring means and said bearing members l being mounted for universal pivotal movement.

12. In combination, a reciprocation unit.

comprising a pair of oppositely acting pistons, means connecting said pistons, bearing means en 'ng said connecting means on one side o the axis of reciprocation of said pistons and bearing means enga said connecting means at points spaced lo gitudinally of said axis anden the opposite. side of the axis from said first named beari ing means, all of said bearin means being mounted for universal pivota movement.

'rHoMAs L. SHERMAN.

tons, means connecting said pistons, bearing 

